Apple's iPad, Oracle's plan for Sun share limelight

IDG News Service - While it seemed that all eyes were on Apple's unveiling of the long-awaited iPad this week, Oracle on the same day revealed its plans for Sun Microsystems' technology, while those at Sun braced for the merger and began their public goodbyes. We also had a flurry of financial reports this week and some Internet weirdness associated with President Barack Obama's first State of the Union address.

1. Apple announces iPad, Apple iPad: 25 unanswered questions, How does the iPad compare to netbooks? and iPad as netbook-killer concept ignites controversy: After months of rumors, speculation and fever-pitch media hype (for which we accept some responsibility), Apple CEO Steve Jobs showed off the iPad tablet. While there was plenty of the customary swooning over a new Apple product to be found, the general consensus seemed to be: That's it?! We've been all excited for this?! Jobs insists that the iPad is better than a netbook, but that notion has ignited a debate.

2. Oracle to scale back Sun server line, make other changes Oracle hails Java but kills Sun cloud: Oracle began to lay out its plans for Sun technologies and products this week. Meanwhile ...

3. With emotion, Sun's long good-bye nears the finish and Sun's Scott McNealy: Thanks for a great 28 years: Sun leaders, including James Gosling, the father of Java, and former Chairman and CEO Scott McNealy offered public farewells to a company they have loved.

4. ACTA talks in Mexico to address transparency concerns: Secret talks that have been ongoing among nations aiming to craft an anticounterfeiting trade agreement (ACTA) haven't seemed to draw a whole lot of attention, but for our money this is some seriously big news. Negotiators got together again this week to work on the measure in Mexico.

5. Congressional Web sites hacked near Obama speech, US House leaders ask for investigation into hackings and No lie! Wilson to respond to State of Union on Facebook: At about the time that President Obama's State of the Union speech began, dozens of congressional Web sites were hacked. U.S. House of Representatives leaders, predictably given their fondness for holding hearings, called for an investigation into the site defacements. Meanwhile, in an even freakier bit of related news, Joe Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, gave a response to the speech via Facebook. His was not the official GOP response. For those who have forgotten, Wilson was the congressman who yelled out "you lie" during President Obama's speech on the now-stalled health-care reform.

6. Wall Street Beat: Economic concerns shadow tech profits: IT bellwethers including Microsoft and Apple released quarterly earnings reports this week, with good news from many on the financial front, but IT investors remained skittish.